Bidirectional unicable switching system

Claim 2

In a cable distribution system having a head end, means at said .[.heat.]. .Iadd.head .Iaddend.end for receiving multiple television channels, a coaxial cable having multiple channel capacity connected to said head end, a bridger amplifier connected to the coaxial cable for receiving and amplifying signals in the multiple television channels, a control station connected to the bridger amplifier, said control station including a switching network and channel converters connected to the bridger amplifier, a feeder cable having a plurality of subscriber allocated channels, said feeder cable connected to the switching network and channel converters, a plurality of subscriber drops connected to the feeder cable, each subscriber drop being connected to a single subscriber allocated channel in the feeder cable, thereby allocating one channel in the feeder cable to each subscriber drop, means at each subscriber drop for sending a control signal to the control station on the subscriber allocated channel allocated to that subscriber drop to control the switching network at the control station.

Claim 3

In a system set forth in claim 1, wherein means are located at the subscriber drop for sending a television signal to the control station on the same subscriber allocated television channel allocated to the subscriber drop and means at said control station for sending the television signal to other subscribers.

Claim 4

In a system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the allocated channel frequencies are allocated to subscriber drops in a descending order depending on the distance of such subscriber drop from the control station.

Claim 5

In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein means for sending the control signal from a subscriber drop to the control station comprises means for sending the control signal on the lower end of the subscriber drops' allocated .[.frequency.]. .Iadd.frequencies.Iaddend..

Claim 6

The cable distribution system of claim 1 wherein the control station switching network and channel converters comprise a first plurality of channel converters connected to bridger amplifier for converting multiple channels from the coaxial cable to a common I.F. band of frequencies, a switching network connected to the first converters, and a second plurality of converters connected to the switching network and to the feeder cable for converting the common I.F. band of frequencies to the separate subscriber allocated channel. .Iadd.6. In a system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the switching network switches programs to any or all

Claim 7

subscribers on request. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. In a cable distribution system having a head end, means at said head end for receiving multiple channels, a coaxial cable having multiple channel capacity connected to said head end, a bridger amplifier connected to the coaxial cable for receiving and amplifying signals in the multiple channels, a control station connected to the bridger amplifier, said control station including a switching network and channel converters connected to the bridger amplifier, a feeder cable having a plurality of subscriber allocated channels, said feeder cable connected to the switching network and channel converters, a plurality of subscriber drops connected to the feeder cable, each subscriber drop being connected to a single subscriber allocated channel in the feeder cable, thereby allocating one channel in the feeder cable to each subscriber drop, means at each subscriber drop for sending a control signal to the control station on the subscriber allocated channel allocated to that subscriber drop to control the switching network at the

Claim 8

subscribers on request. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. In a cable distribution system having a head end, means at said head end for receiving multiple channels, a coaxial cable having multiple channel capacity connected to said head end, a bridger amplifier connected to the coaxial cable for receiving and amplifying signals in the multiple channels, a control station connected to the bridger amplifier, said control station including a switching network and channel converters connected to the bridger amplifier, a feeder cable having a plurality of subscriber allocated channels, said feeder cable connected to the switching network and channel converters, a plurality of subscriber drops connected to the feeder cable, each subscriber drop being connected to a single subscriber allocated channel in the feeder cable, thereby allocating one channel in the feeder cable to each subscriber drop, means at each subscriber drop for sending a control signal to the control station on the subscriber allocated channel allocated to that subscriber drop to control the switching network at the

Claim 9

control station. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. In a system set forth in claim 7, wherein the allocated channel frequencies are allocated to subscriber drops in a descending order depending on the distance of such subscriber drop from the control station. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. In a system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the switching network controls programs from multiple channel sources such a libraries and schools which are sent to each subscriber on his allocated channel for reception of desired programs. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The cable distribution system of claim 7, wherein the control station switching network and channel converters comprise a first plurality of channel converters connected to a bridger amplifier for converting multiple channels from the coaxial cable to a common I.F. band of frequencies, a switching network connected to the first converters, and a second plurality of converters connected to the switching network and to the feeder cable for converting the common I.F. band of frequencies to the separate subscriber allocated channel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. In a system set forth in claim 7, wherein means are located at the subscriber drop for sending a signal to the control station on the same subscriber allocated channel allocated to the subscriber drop and means at said control station for sending the signal to other subscribers. .Iadd. 12. A cable distribution system having a head end, means at said head end for receiving multiple bands of frequencies, a coaxial cable having capacity for multiple bands of frequencies connected to said head end, a bridger amplifier connected to the coaxial cable for receiving and amplifying signals in the multiple bands of frequencies, a control station connected to the bridger amplifier, said control station including a switching network and frequency converters connected to the bridger amplifier, a feeder cable having a plurality of subscriber allocated bands of frequencies, said feeder cable connected to the switching network and frequency converters, a plurality of subscriber drops connected to the feeder cable, each subscriber drop being connected to a single subscriber allocated band of frequencies in the feeder cable, thereby allocating one band of frequencies in the feeder cable to each subscriber drop, means at each subscriber drop for sending a control signal to the control station on the subscriber allocated band of frequencies allocated to that subscriber drop to control the switching network at the control station. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. A system set forth in claim 12 wherein means are located at the subscriber drop for sending a signal to the control station on the same subscriber allocated band of frequencies allocated to the subscriber drop and means at said control station for sending the signal to other subscribers. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the allocated bands of frequencies are allocated to subscriber drops in a descending order depending on the distance of such subscriber drop from the control station. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein means for sending the control signal from a subscriber drop to the control station comprises means for sending the control signal on the lower end of the subscriber drops' allocated band of frequencies. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein the control station switching network and frequency converters comprise a first plurality of frequency converters connected to bridger amplifier for converting multiple bands of frequencies from the coaxial cable to a common I.F. band of frequencies, a switching network connected to the first converters, and a second plurality of converters connected to the switching network and to the feeder cable for converting the common I.F. band of frequencies to the separate subscriber allocated band of frequencies. .Iaddend.